"deal it out" means: To attack (someone); to have it out.. It carries a violent or aggressive reference, so it is worth noting the context. In most cases the word is used jokingly or for emphasis rather than as a sign of real intent. A calm question about where it was heard is usually all that is needed; pay more attention to behaviour and tone than to the word itself.
deal it out
(slang, Australia, originally, sport) To attack (someone); to have it out.
Definitions
(slang, Australia, originally, sport) To attack (someone); to have it out.
"deal it out" means: To attack (someone); to have it out.. It carries a violent or aggressive reference, so it is worth noting the context. In most cases the word is used jokingly or for emphasis rather than as a sign of real intent. A calm question about where it was heard is usually all that is needed; pay more attention to behaviour and tone than to the word itself.
"deal it out" means: To attack (someone); to have it out.. Register: informal slang, fine in casual conversation, texting and social media but not in academic essays, business writing or formal speech. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "deal it out" (D)
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(slang, transitive, New Zealand) To beat up (someone); to destroy, attack or defeat (someone).
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(slang) To harm or kill (someone).
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(slang, Australia) to criticise someone.
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(slang) To try to impress (someone) with deceptions.
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(slang, transitive) To fight, especially with fists; to knock out (someone).